• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6829-6835
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• 2014

Chemotherapy is the primary therapy for malignant lymphoma (ML). However, the clinical outcome is still far from satisfactory. Consequently, an understanding of the mechanism of modulating cancer cell invasion, migration and metastasis is important for the development of more effective chemotherapeutic agents. FNC, 2'-deoxy-2'-${\beta}$-fluoro-4'-azidocytidine, a novel cytidine analogue, has demonstrated significantly inhibitory effects on proliferation of several non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cell lines. A previous study indicated that FNC effectively inhibited the growth of Raji and JeKo-1 cells in dose-time dependent effects with $IC_{50}$ values of $0.2{\mu}M$ and $0.097{\mu}M$, respectively. This study was focused on investigating the anti-invasive properties of FNC on NHL cells and its potential mechanisms of action. Cell adhesion and transwell chamber assays were utilized to investigate the anti-invasive effects of FNC on Raji and JeKo-1 cells. Real-time PCR and Western blotting were employed to qualify the expression of ${\beta}$-catenin, the glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-$3{\beta}$), E-cadherin vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). The results revealed that FNC remarkably inhibited the adhesion, migration and invasion of two human aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma cell lines in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, ${\beta}$-catenin, MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF mRNA and protein levels were decreased after FNC treatment, while GSK-$3{\beta}$ and E-cadherin increased. Our studies thus provide evidence and a rationale that FNC may offer an effective chemotherapeutic agent by regulating the invasion and metastasis of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma via inhibition of the Wnt/${\beta}$-catenin signaling pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.132-139
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• 2016

The endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is known to be involved in the transformation of vascular endothelial cells to mesenchymal cells. EndMT has been confirmed that occur in various pathologic conditions. Transforming growth factor ${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) is a potent stimulator of the vascular endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). Aspirin-triggered resolvin D1 (AT-RvD1) has been known to be involved in the resolution of inflammation, but whether it has effects on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT is not yet clear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of AT-RvD1 on the EndMT of human umbilical vein vascular endothelial cells line (HUVECs). Treatment with TGF-${\beta}1$ reduced the expression of Nrf2 and enhanced the level of F-actin, which is associated with paracellular permeability. The expression of endothelial marker VE-cadherin in HUVEC cells was reduced, and the expression of mesenchymal marker vimentin was enhanced. AT-RvD1 restored the expression of Nrf2 and vimentin and enhanced the expression of VE-cadherin. AT-RvD1 did also affect the migration of HUVEC cells. Inhibitory ${\kappa}B$ kinase 16 (IKK 16), which is known to inhibit the NF-${\kappa}B$ pathway, had an ability to increase the expression of Nrf2 and was associated with the inhibition effect of AT-RvD1 on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT, but it had no effect on TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT alone. Smad7, which is a key regulator of TGF-${\beta}$/Smads signaling by negative feedback loops, was significantly increased with the treatment of AT-RvD1. These results suggest the possibility that AT-RvD1 suppresses the TGF-${\beta}1$-induced EndMT through increasing the expression of Smad7 and is closely related to oxidative stress.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1200-1208
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• 2009

Tight junctions (TJs) that act as paracellular permeability barriers play an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. In this study, we investigated the correlation between the tightening of TJs, permeability and the invasive activity of genistein - a bioactive isoflavone of soybeans - in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. The inhibitory effects of genistein on cell proliferation, motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with the increased tightness of the TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance and a decrease in paracellular permeability. Additionally, the immunoblotting results indicated that genistein repressed the levels of the proteins that comprise the major components of TJ, claudin-3 and claudin-4, which play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Furthermore, genistein decreased the metastasis-related gene expressions of insulin like growth factor-1 receptor and snail, while concurrently increasing that of thrombospondin-1 and E-cadherin. In addition, we demonstrated that claudins play an important role in the anti-motility and invasiveness of genistein using claudin-3 small interfering RNA. Taken together, our results indicate a possible role for genistein as an inhibitor of cancer cell invasion through the tightening of TJs, which may counteract the up-regulation of claudins. In addition, our results indicate that this may be beneficial for the inhibition of tumor metastasis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.11
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• pp.1331-1337
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• 2015

S-allylcysteine (SAC) is an aged garlic derived water soluble organosulfur compound and has been suggested to have anticarcinogenic activity against diverse types of cancer cells. This review summarizes the cellular signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms whereby SAC exerts its effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and metastasis based on the results from both in vitro and in vivo studies. SAC activates proapoptotic proteins including Bax and caspase-3, but suppresses antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins to bring about cancer cell death through mitochondria-mediated intrinsic pathway. SAC also inhibits cellular proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest in which SAC reduces expression and activation of NF-κB, cyclins, Cdks, PCNA and c-Jun, but elevates expression of cell cycle inhibitor proteins p16 and p21 through suppression of both PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. And, SAC inhibits invasion and metastasis of cancer cells by inducing suppression of both angiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through decreased cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression and increased E-cadherin expression which were then caused by suppression of inhibitory transcription factors Id-1 and SLUG from SAC-mediated inactivation of both MAPK/ERK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, SAC prevents toxic compound-induced carcinogenesis by inducing antioxidant enzymes such as glutathione-s-transferase (GST). Thus, SAC can be considered as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2012

Snail is a zinc finger transcription factor that induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by repressing E-cadherin expression. In addition, Snail restricts the cellular apoptotic response to apoptotic stimuli or survival factor withdrawal; however, its molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism underlying Snail-mediated chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs. When Snail was overexpressed by doxycycline (DOX) in MCF-7 #5 cells, it inhibited 5-FU-induced apoptotic cell death and switched the cell death mode to necrosis. Snail expression, either by DOX treatment in MCF-7 #5 cells or by the transfection of Snail expression vectors pCR3.1-Snail-Flg, phosphorylation-resistant pCR3.1-S104, and 107A Snail-Flg in MCF-7 cells specifically induced PTEN down-regulation/inactivation and Akt/PKB activation, without affecting ERK1/2 activity. In addition, Snail prominently suppressed 5-FU-induced increases in p53 levels. These findings demonstrate that Snail switches 5-FU-induced apoptosis to necrosis through the activation of Akt/PKB and the down-regulation of p53 levels.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 2015

The anticancer activity of a methanolic extract from lemon leaves (MLL) was assessed in MCF-7-SC human breast cancer stem cells. MLL induced apoptosis in MCF-7-SC, as evidenced by increased apoptotic body formation, sub-G1 cell population, annexin V-positive cells, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as proteolytic activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Concomitantly, MLL induced the formation of acidic vesicular organelles, increased LC3-II accumulation, and reduced the activation of Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K, suggesting that MLL initiates an autophagic progression in MCF-7-SC via the Akt/mTOR pathway. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a critical step in the acquisition of the metastatic state, is an attractive target for therapeutic interventions directed against tumor metastasis. At low concentrations, MLL induced anti-metastatic effects on MCF-7-SC by inhibiting the EMT process. Exposure to MLL also led to an increase in the epithelial marker E-cadherin, but decreased protein levels of the mesenchymal markers Snail and Slug. Collectively, this study provides evidence that lemon leaves possess cytotoxicity and anti-metastatic properties. Therefore, MLL may prove to be beneficial as a medicinal plant for alternative novel anticancer drugs and nutraceutical products.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.287-293
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• 2011

Objectives : The region of chromosome 5p14 is known to be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The cadherin9 (CDH9) and cadherin10 (CDH10) genes are located in the region of chromosome 5p14 and reported to be associated with ASD in the Caucasian population. We performed an association study to identify if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are associated in the Korean population. Methods : Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood of 214 patients with ASD and 258 controls. SNPs selected from two genes were genotyped using an Illumina Golden-Gate Genotyping assay with VeraCode technology. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS and Plink software. Results : All controls and ASD patients were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In the results of logistic regression analyses for the genotype model and the chi-square test for the allele model, we found that SNPs on the CDH9 and CDH10 genes were not associated with ASD. Conclusion : Our data suggests that the CDH9 and CDH10 genes are not associated with ASD in the Korean population.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.423-435
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• 2018

This investigation was aimed at working out the combined role of lncRNA H19, miR-29b and Wnt signaling in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In the aggregate, 185 CRC tissues and corresponding para-carcinoma tissues were gathered. The human CRC cell lines (i.e. HT29, HCT116, SW480 and SW620) and normal colorectal mucosa cell line (NCM460) were also purchased. Si-H19, si-NC, miR-29b-3p mimics, miR-29b-3p inhibitor, si-PGRN and negative control (NC) were, respectively, transfected into the CRC cells. Luciferase reporter plasmids were prepared to evaluate the transduction activity of $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was arranged to confirm the targeted relationship between H19 and miR-29b-3p, as well as between miR-29b-3p and PGRN. Finally, the proliferative and invasive capacities of CRC cells were appraised through transwell, MTT and scratch assays. As a result, overexpressed H19 and down-expressed miR-29b-3p displayed close associations with the CRC patients' poor prognosis (P < 0.05). Besides, transfection with si-H19, miR-29b-3p mimic or si-PGRN were correlated with elevated E-cadherin expression, decreased snail and vimentin expressions, as well as less-motivated cell proliferation and cell metastasis (P < 0.05). Moreover, H19 was verified to directly target miR-29b-3p based on the luciferase reporter gene assay (P < 0.05), and miR-29b-3p also bound to PGRN in a direct manner (P < 0.05). Finally, addition of LiCl ($Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ pathway activator) or XAV93920 ($Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ pathway inhibitor) would cause remarkably altered E-cadherin, c-Myc, vimentin and snail expressions, as well as significantly changed transcriptional activity of ${\beta}-catenin/Tcf$ reporter plasmid (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the lncRNA H19/miR-29b-3p/PGRN/Wnt axis counted a great deal for seeking appropriate diagnostic biomarkers and treatment targets for CRC.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.515-522
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• 2018

Patients with head and neck cancer are treated with therapeutic irradiation, which can result in irreversible salivary gland dysfunction. Because there is no complete cure for such patients, stem cell therapy is an emerging alternative for functional restoration of salivary glands. In this study, we investigated in vitro characteristics of primarily isolated epithelial cells from human salivary gland (Epi-SGs) and in vivo formation of acini-like structures by Epi-SGs. Primarily isolated Epi-SGs showed typical epithelial cell-like morphology and expressed E-cadherin but not N-cadherin. Epi-SGs expressed epithelial stem cell (EpiSC) and embryonic stem cell (ESC) markers. During long-term culture, the expression of EpiSC and ESC markers was highly detected and maintained within the core population with small size and low cytoplasmic complexity. The core population expressed cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 14, known as duct markers indicating that Epi-SGs might be originated from the duct. When Epi-SGs were transplanted in vivo with Matrigel, acini-like structures were readily formed at 4 days after transplantation and they were maintained at 7 days after transplantation. Taken together, our data suggested that Epi-SGs might contain stem cells which were positive for EpiSC and ESC markers, and Epi-SGs might contribute to the regeneration of acini-like structures in vivo. We expect that Epi-SGs will be useful source for the functional restoration of damaged salivary gland.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.164-171
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• 2019

Radiation therapy has many side effects, such as digestive mucosal ulcers, without regard to its efficacy. The purpose of this study is to address an alternative method to replace the limitation of radiation therapy using radiomimetic microbial ribotoxins. In the evaluation of cancer therapy, we analyzed the formation of colorectal cancer (CRC) cell spheroids, which can take into account the heterogeneous cellular constitution, tumor stem cells, and the surrounding microenvironment. Ribotoxic stress interfered with the spheroid structure composed of relatively small clusters. Spheroids under ribotoxic stress were structurally sparse and their shrinkage was very slow. In the control group, the clusters of strongly aggregated cells were resistant to physical stress, but the ribotoxic stress-exposed spheroids were easily broken up by the physical stress. Moreover, the ribosome-insulted CRC cells slowly migrated to form clusters and the cell-cell junctional points in the ribosome-insulted spheroids were rarer than those in the control CRC spheroid. Moreover, levels of the cell-to-cell junctional protein E-cadherin were suppressed by ribotoxic stress in both allograft and xenograft spheroids. In conclusion, the radiomimetic microbial ribotoxins induced structural defects in CRC cell spheroids via retardation of migration and cell-cell junction in the formation of three-dimensional structures, and provides a basis for the mechanism of pharmacological radiomimetic anticancer actions as an alternate to radiotherapy against cancer.